Ignition distributor, engine governor, tachometer drive unit



E. C. BETTONI July 7, 19$9v IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR, ENGINE GOVERNOR, TACHOMETER DRIVE UNIT Filed Jan. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O m E V m C.- m m m. 4 8 2 7 7 m. 4 O 2 2 l w I 2 f 8 .4 4 I2. 8. 2

4 0 4 I. 8 2 6 0 2 2 9 I, ym 4 .6 8 J3 /6 8 EUGENE- C. BETTONI' BYM- I 52- ATTORNEYS July 7, 1959 2,893,363

IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR, ENGINE GOVERNOR, TACHOMETER DRIVE UNIT Filed Jan. 28, 1957 E. C. BETTONI 2 Sheets-Shut 2 I INVENTOR.

EUGENE c. BETTONI BY [V ATTOR EYs States Patent IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR, ENGINE GOVERNOR, TACHOMETER DRIVE UNIT Eugene C. Bettoni, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Holley Carburetor Company, Van Dyke, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 28, 1957, Serial No. 636,824

9 Claims. Cl. 123-91 The present invention relates to an ignition distributor, engine governor, tachometer drive unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement of parts in an ignition distributor, engine governor, and tachometer drive unit which facilitates assembly and avoids difficulties previously encountered in connecting a tachometer to the ignition distributor.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide the elements of a combined ignition distributor and tachometer drive assembly so as to permit complete sub-assembly of elements with the drive shaft followed by insertion of the sub-assembly as a unit into the open end of the distributor housing.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein? p t Figure 1 is an enlarged side elevational view of the unit with parts removed and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of parts of the assembly taken at 90 degrees from the view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view at the shank end of the housing.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified construction.

The present invention is an improvement over the construction illustrated in my prior copending application Serial No. 591,168 filed June 13, 1956, now Patent Number 2,838,029.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an ignition distributor of the type having a distributor governor advance mechanism associated therewith and also including an engine governor mechanism. The details of the distributor governor advance mechanism and the engine governor manifold will not be described except to call attention to the fact that both include means actuated by fluid pressure.

The present invention has as its principal aim a design of structure which permits efiicient inclusion of means for effecting tachometer drive with a minimum of difficulty and without requiring separate attachments, takeoifs, etc.

The distributor housing is completely open at its top as indicated at 12, and is substantially closed at its lower end, the lower end being provided with a generally cylindrical vertically extending recess 14. Adjacent the lower portion of the recess 14 it is provided with a lateral extension 16 providing space for the reception of a driven tachometer gear element indicated at 18. Below the recess 14 the housing 10 terminates in a reduced shank 20 having an opening 22 extending therethrough of a size only sufficiently large to receive the drive shaft together with the requisite seals.

The drive shaft is indicated at 24 and is adapted to be connected at its lower end to suitable driving mechanism such for example as gearing connecting it to the cam shaft or other rotating part of the engine. The drive shaft, which is indicated generally at 24, is actually composed of a lower section 24a and an upper section 24b for a purpose which will subsequently be described.

The housing 10 adjacent its upper end is provided with a flange 26 for the reception of a plate on which may be mounted conventional distributor mechanism not illustrated herein. It may be noted however, that the distributor mechanism includes means adapted to be actuated by a cam and the present construction includes means for adjusting the cam angularly with respect to the drive shaft 24. This mechanism is indicated at 28 and for the present it is sufiicient to note that it includes a flexible diaphragm 30 adapted to be moved as a result of the differential between manifold vacuum and spring means indicated at 32. In general, it may be mentioned that the diaphragm is carried by a centrifugal element 34 movable outwardly by centrifugal force against a spring 36 to a position determined by engine speed. The flexible diaphragm 30 is movable relative to the centrifugal element and by suitable mechanism not pertinant herein, effects operation of a pin 38. Centrifugal means are provided at diametrically opposite sides of the shaft 24 and the two pins 38 move in unison in a direction tangential to a circle concentric with the shaft 24. The pins 38 are received in slots in actuating arms connected to a cam angularly movable on the shaft 24 and accordingly, the cam is advanced or retarded in accordance with engine speed and manifold vacuum. For a detailed description of this mechanism reference is made to the copending application of Kalin S. Johnson, Serial No. 592,000, filed June 18, 1956 and assigned to the assignee herein.

It will be observed that the distributor governor advance mechanism includes a tubular element 40 which extends through the shaft section 24b and which is in communication with a longitudinally extending passageway 42 formed between shaft sections 24a and 24b.

The engine governor mechanism indicated generally at 43 includes a transversely extending tubular element 44 which extends through aligned openings in shaft sections 24a and 24b. The engine governor mechanism'includes a passage 46 normally vented as indicated at 48 but adapted to be closed by a centrifugal weight 50 Whose movement under centrifugal forces is opposed by a spring 52. The passage 46 communicates with a longitudinally extending passage 54 in the shaft section 24a.

The housing 10 is provided with an embossment 56 having fluid passages 58 and 60 extending to fitting receiving sockets 62 and 64. Received within the recess '14 is a shell housing 66 having annular grooves 68 and 70 communicating respectively with the passages 58 and 60. The grooves 68 and 70 in turn have'radially extending ports 72 and 74 respectively opening to the interior of the shell housing 66. Received within the shell housing 66 are annular ported spacers 76 and 78 respectively in communication with the ports 72 and 74. At the inner surface of the annular spacers there are provided annular grooves 80 and 82. The axially extending passage 54 in the shaft element 24a has a radial passage 84 communicating with the anular groove 82. In like manner, the fluid passage 42 provided between shaft members 24a and 24b communicates by a radial passage 86 with the annular groove 80. Annular spacers 76 and 78 are separated in the shell housing by a double seal 88 and annular seals 90 and 92 are provided at the top and bottom of the assembly respectively. The upper end of the shell housing 66 receives an upper bushing 94.

The shell housing 66 is in general of cup-shape and has at its lower end a transversely extending bottom wall 96 having an opening therein sufiiciently large to receive 3 the shaft 24. The shell housing 66 has slight clearance 'with're'sp'ect to the inner surface of the recess 14- and is provided with a plurality of O-ring seals indicated at 98.

ightly below the lower end of the Sh ll house'ta chometer drive gear element 100 adapted th the driven gear 18. The tachometer drive entis'fkey'ed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 2ft as ind e ted at 102; seal 104 is provided below the gear lil lan wfi h hank o h h u ower end of the shaft24 may have a gear 106 keyed or otherwise secured thereto for connection to a riot a tedjin accordance with engine speed. If a gear such as 106' is secured to the. lower end of the shaft, it will be apparent "thatit would not be attached until after 'tlie sub-assembly 'has been inserted in the housing 10. Preferably however, the lower end of the shaft 24 is provided with a c'oupling and driving formation whose dross-sectional area does not exceed that of the shaft. Iii igure '4 such an arrangement is illustrated, the lower nd 'of the shaft 24 being provided with a slot 168 which may receive a driving key carried by a driving element. Inithis caseit will be observed that the shaft, the tachometefdrive gear 100, the shellhousing 66, together with the elements contained therein, the engine governor mechanism,'and the distributor governor advance mecha'riisrn may; all be removed as a unit from the housing lofa fter the housing has been mounted on the engine. The arts may of course be replaced by simple insertion, rag ngcare that the slot 108 registers with the driving key.

- With the foregoing construction in mind it will be observed that sub-assembly referred to is assembled by inserting the seals 92, the spacers 76 and 78,a nd the -biishing""*94"in'the shell housing 66. The distributor governor advance mechanism 28 and the engine governor niechanism 43- are assembledlon the shaft 24 and the shaft is in'serte d through the assembly of elements received within'the shell housing 66. The tachometer drive gear 100 is next assembled on the lower end of the drive shaft engaging the slot 108 at its lower'end with a driving key; it will of course be apparent that the complete assembly of elements illustrated as received within the 'housing'10may be removed as a unit simply by removing the screws 110.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of'the improved ignition distributor, engine governor, tachometer drive unit, in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any -person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim-as my invention is:

l. A distributor and tachometer drive assembly. comprising a housing open at the top andterminatingat the bottom in a reduced pilot shank, said housing having a lateral enlargement adjacent its lower end for a driven gear 'eiernent, a drive shaft having a tachometer drive gear fixed thereto'insertable as a unit from theopen upper end of-- the housing.

A distributor and tachometerdrive assembly comprising a housing openat the top and terrninating. at the bottomi in a reduced pilotshank having a openingtherein only; sufiiciently large to receive a drive shaft, saidhousn a lateral enlargement adjacent its lqwer end for a driven gear element, a drive shaft having a tachomiyegsgr 'firssl. he in nsatiab e a a uni from and pinned. in place 'with' the necessary clearance bethe open upper end of the housing and having a portion fitting within and extending through the opening in said shank.

3. A combined distributor, governor and tachometer drive unit comprising a housing open at the top and having a reduced shank at the, bottom provided with an opening only sufficiently large to receive a drive shaft, said housing having r'neansat its upper end formounting an ignition distributor, a sub-assembly comprising a cupshaped shell: housing having, a substantially closed end provided with an'opening therein, a shaft extending through the opening, said shaft having radially ported axially extending passages, a pair of radially ported annular spacers in the space between said shell housing and shaft, said shell housinghaving radial ports communicating with the ports of said spacers, a distributor governor advance mechanism connected to the upper end of said shaft including fiuidp$il Operated means in communication with one ofth eapassages in said shaft, an enginegovernor mechanism, connected to the upper end ofsai cl shaft andhaving fluid pressure operated means in communication with-the otheripassage in said shaft, a tachometer drive gear fixed to said shaft below said shell housing, said; sub-assembly being irisertable as. a unit through the open end 0f said housin g with said, shaft es sndi fih h h -er ata n h lriills:. a 1. ne. sa b ui in ha na as s q inw sa a with e tort n. an h bhn si nd awn s n en r ment for receivinga gear to beldnven by saidtachometer drive gear,

4. A combined distributor, governor and;.tachomete r dt e i m ris ns h usina 01 .11; t he; 10p n saarsq sd h nk tl h ba t f r w d d-w h n nns n r su ientl ar e to rece v i e ha s d 19Pir sa i .-msan$ atifie PPs and or mounting n ignition distributor, a sub-assembly comprising,- a cupshaped shell housing having a snbstantially closed end provided with an opening therein, a shaft extending through theopening, said shaft-having radially ported ana ly ex din p nag sy-arpa r -rad l ported nular spacers in the space between said shell housing and shaft, said; shellhousing having. radial ports communicating with the ports of said spacers, a distributor governor advance. mechanism; connected to the upper end of said shaft including fluid pressure operated means in communication with one ofthe passages insaid shaft, an engine; gevernpnmechanismconnected to the upper end cts i ha t and ha n fluid. p ess re r d means .i communication with the other passagev in. said shaft, a h mste dr ve ear: fix d IQ ai ha t qw Shell us maid; l rasssmbly n n r abl a a i hr it eop n dtqfi aid. on in th -sh endin h u h. he. pe in i the h nk f. said housa d; hgi s na a in p ssa e omm nicati with t e Port n Ba i sha l ho s nd a n nenlargeeat 9 f' '?t .-?l ear o e r e y-s i a meter drive gear, the lower end of saidshaft having a oupl o m n. ar e han t e cross-section said shaft whereby the complete sub-assembly may be rem val m. a d, ho s a ni 5. In combination a housing; open at its top and provided with an upwardly open recess in its lower end terurina in in a duced s an hav g nope therethrough only largeenough to receive adrive shaft, said e e s v ng, ate al. nlar emen ap edto r eive a driven tachometer gear, a sub-assembly, adapted to be inserted in andremoved fIQmsaidhousingas a unit, said sub assembly comprising a shaft having; radially ported axiallyextending fluid-passagestherein, adriving tachometer gear fixed theretqandrdimensioned to bereceived in said recess, a, cup-shaped;shell;housing having. a bottom wall provided with; an, o p ening in whichsaid shaft; is received, a pair of ported, annular spacersin said shell housing surrounding said;shaft,; and fluid actuated disernor mechanism fixed to said shaft above said shell housing and in communication with the passages therein.

6. In combination a housing open at its top and provided with an upwardly open recess in its lower end terminating in a reduced shank having an opening therethrough only large enough to receive a drive shaft, said recess having a lateral enlargement adapted to receive a driven tachometer gear, a sub-assembly adapted to be inserted in and removed from said housing as a unit, said sub-assembly comprising a shaft having radially ported axially extending fluid passages therein, a driving tachometer gear fixed thereto and dimensioned to be received in said recess, a cup-shaped shell housing having a bottom wall provided with an opening in which said shaft is received, a pair of ported annular spacers in said shell housing surrounding said shaft, and fluid actuated distributor governor advance mechanism and engine governor mechanism fixed to said shaft above said shell housing and in communication with the passages therein, the lower end of said shaft having a coupling drive formation no larger than the cross-section of said shaft, whereby said entire sub-assembly may be removed as a unit from a mounted housing.

7. A distributor and tachometer drive assembly comprising a housing open at a receiving end and terminating at the other end in a reduced pilot shank, said housing having a centrally open portion for a driven gear element, a drive shaft having a tachometer drive gear fixed thereto insertable as a unit from the open receiving end of the housing.

8. A distributor and governor drive assembly comprising a housing open at a receiving end and terminating at the other end in a reduced pilot shank, drive shaft means having a distributor mechanism and a governor attached thereto insertable as a unit from the open receiving end of the housing.

9. A combined distributor, governor and tachometer drive unit comprising a housing open at a receiving end and terminating at the other end in a reduced pilot shank, said housing having a centrally open portion for a driven gear element, a drive gear having a tachometer and governor fixed thereto insertable as a unit from the open receiving end of the housing, with the tachometer drive being registrable with the driven gear element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,867 Hartzell et a1. Jan. 5, 1954 2,664,868 Lautzenhiser Jan. 5, 1954 2,736,305 Kennedy Feb. 28, 1956 

